Roofing membrane temperature indicator

ABSTRACT

A roofing membrane temperature indicator is provided for preventing the installation of a roofing membrane or roofing membranes at a temperature below a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) and/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) for a particular installation procedure. The membrane temperature indicator is visibly associated with the roofing membrane(s) and includes a thermochromic indicator having a first color at temperatures below a designated temperature and a second color visibly different from the first color at and above the designated temperature. The designated temperature at which the color of the membrane indicator changes is at or above a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) and/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) for a particular installation procedure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to roofing membranes and in particular toa roofing membrane temperature indicator that enables a roofingcontractor to readily determine whether the temperature of a roofingmembrane or a plurality of roofing membranes in a package is suitablefor the installation of the roofing membrane(s) in a roofing system andthereby prevent an inadvertent installation of the roofing membrane(s)in a roofing system at a temperature below a minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) and/or a minimumrecommended installation temperature for the membrane(s) for aparticular roofing membrane installation procedure.

Asphaltic roofing membranes with smooth or granular top surfaces, otherroofing membranes (such as but not limited single ply PVC, TPO, and EPDMmembranes sold by Johns Manville International, Inc. and other roofingproduct manufactures), and asphaltic, single ply, or other roofingmembranes that have smooth or granular thermochromic top surfaces thatundergo a visible color change at a specific temperature to promoteenergy conservation within a building should only be installed underconditions that conform to the application specifications set forth bythe manufacturer. These application specifications permit theapplication of these roofing membranes only when the roofing membranesare at temperatures that are at or above minimum recommendedinstallation temperatures. By requiring these roofing membranes to be ator above minimum recommended installation temperatures, the roofingmembranes are not damaged during application due to a lack of sufficientpliability and good strong bonds are formed between the individualroofing membranes of a roofing layer and the roofing membranes of thatlayer and an underlying roofing layer. In general, applicationspecifications require the roofing membranes set forth in this paragraphto be installed in a roofing system only when the roofing membranes areat temperatures of 40° F. (4° C.) or higher. Where these roofingmembranes are self-adhering roofing membranes, the adhesion of theseroofing membranes to other roofing membranes and roofing layers ishighly dependent on the temperatures of the roofing membranes at thetime of installation. Thus, these self-adhering roofing membranes shouldonly be installed when the temperatures of these roofing membranes aresufficiently high to assure a good strong bond between these roofingmembranes and between these roofing membranes and other roofing layerse.g. at temperatures of 50° F. (10° C.) or higher.

When a roofing system is being installed, the ambient temperature andthe temperature of the roofing membranes to be installed in the roofingsystem may not and frequently do not coincide. Thus, ambient temperaturealone cannot be relied upon to determine whether conditions areacceptable for the installation of the roofing membranes. For example,while the ambient temperature at the job site might be 40° F. or higher,the temperature of the roofing membranes to be installed, e.g. afterbeing stored at the job site over night, might not be at or above thetemperature required to meet application specifications, but at atemperature below that required to meet application specifications, e.g.at a temperature below 40° F. By way of another example, self-adheringroofing membranes should be at or above a specified temperature to meetapplication specifications, e.g. at or above 50° F. (10° C.), but can beinstalled when ambient temperatures are less than that temperature, e.g.at temperatures of 45° F. (7° C.) and rising during installation. Thus,a contractor cannot rely solely on knowing the ambient temperature whendetermining if application specifications for a roofing membrane arebeing met during the installation of the roofing membrane. Thecontractor must know both the ambient temperature and whether or not theroofing membranes to be installed are at or above a minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for the roofing membranes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The roofing membrane temperature indicator of the subject inventionenables roofing contractors to readily determine if the temperature of amembrane, such as but not limited to a self-adhering membrane, issuitable for the installation of the roofing membrane in a roofingsystem and thereby prevents the installation of the roofing membrane ata temperature below a minimum recommended installation temperature forthe roofing membrane. It is also contemplated that the roofing membranetemperature indicator of the subject invention can be used with aroofing membrane to enable roofing contractors to readily determine ifthe temperature of the membrane is suitable for a particularinstallation procedure and thereby prevents the installation of theroofing membrane at a temperature below a minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for the roofing membrane for a particularinstallation procedure.

The membrane temperature indicator of the subject invention is visiblyassociated with the roofing membrane(s) and includes a thermochromicindicator (thermo-chromatic indicator) that changes color withtemperature. The membrane temperature indicator of the subject inventionhas a first color below a designated temperature and a second colorvisibly different from and normally lighter than the first color at andabove the designated temperature. Thus, the membrane temperatureindicator of the subject invention lightens from a darker color (e.g.black or dark gray) to a lighter color (e.g. white or light gray) whenthe temperature of the roofing membrane(s) and membrane temperatureindicator rises to and above the designated temperature and darkens fromthe lighter color (e.g. white or light gray) to the darker color (e.g.black or dark gray) when the temperature of the membrane(s) and membranetemperature indicator drops below the designated temperature. Thedesignated temperature at which the color of the membrane temperatureindicator changes is at or above a minimum recommended installationtemperature for the roofing membrane and/or the minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for the roofing membrane for a particularinstallation procedure. Thus, when the membrane temperature indicatorchanges from the first, e.g. darker color, to the second, e.g. lightercolor, the membrane(s) with which the membrane temperature indicator isassociated are at a temperature that is at or above the minimumrecommended installation temperature for the membrane(s).

The membrane temperature indicator of the subject invention can bevisibly associated with a package of roofing membranes or withindividual roofing membranes. With a package of roofing membranes themembrane temperature indicator may overlie the roofing membranes or oneor more of the roofing membranes may include a temperature indicatorthat is integral with, overlies, or is secured to the roofing membrane.With an individually packaged roofing membrane the temperature indicatorof the subject invention can also be integral with, overlie, or besecured to the individual roofing membrane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a package of roofing membranesprovided with a membrane temperature indicator of the subject inventionwherein the temperature of the roofing membranes and membranetemperature indicator is below the designated temperature of themembrane temperature indicator.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the package of roofingmembranes shown in FIG. 1 wherein the temperature of the roofingmembranes and membrane temperature indicator is at or above thedesignated temperature of the membrane temperature indicator.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view from above of at least some of the roofingmembranes from the package of FIGS. 1 and 2 and two membrane temperatureindicators from the package of FIGS. 1 and 2 installed on a roof withthe temperature of the roofing membranes and membrane temperatureindicators at or above the designated temperature of the membranetemperature indicator.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a roofing membrane roll with amembrane temperature indicator on the packaging sleeve and thetemperature of the roofing membrane and membrane temperature indicatorbelow the designated temperature of the membrane temperature indicator.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a roofing membrane roll with amembrane temperature indicator on the packaging sleeve and thetemperature of the roofing membrane and membrane temperature indicatorat or above the designated temperature of the membrane temperatureindicator.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a roofing membrane roll with amembrane temperature indicator secured to or integral with the roofingmembrane and the temperature of the roofing membrane and membranetemperature indicator below the designated temperature of the membranetemperature indicator.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a roofing membrane roll with amembrane temperature indicator secured to or integral with the roofingmembrane and the temperature of the roofing membrane and membranetemperature indicator at or above the designated temperature of themembrane temperature indicator.

FIGS. 8 to 13 are schematic perspective views of examples of roofingmembranes incorporating the membrane temperature indicator of thesubject invention with the roofing membranes and membrane temperatureindicators shown both below and at or above the designated temperatureof the membrane temperature indicators.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The membrane temperature indicator of the subject invention is visiblyassociated with the roofing membrane(s) and includes a thermochromicindicator (thermo-chromatic indicator) that changes color withtemperature. The membrane temperature indicator of the subject inventionhas a first color below a designated temperature and a second colorvisibly different from and normally lighter than the first color at andabove the designated temperature. Thus, the membrane temperatureindicator of the subject invention lightens from a darker color (e.g.black or dark gray) to a lighter color (e.g. white or light gray) whenthe temperature of the membrane(s) and membrane temperature indicatorrises to and above the designated temperature and darkens from thelighter color (e.g. white or light gray) to the darker color (e.g. blackor dark gray) when the temperature of the membrane(s) and membranetemperature indicator drops below the designated temperature. Thedesignated temperature at which the color of the membrane temperatureindicator changes is at or above a minimum recommended installationtemperature for the roofing membrane and/or a minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for the roofing membrane for a particularinstallation procedure.

The membrane temperature indicator of the subject invention can bevisibly associated with a package of roofing membranes or withindividual roofing membranes. The membrane temperature indicator of thesubject invention can perform at least two functions by being in theform of a company logo, trademark, or some other desired indicia that,in addition to performing as a membrane temperature indicator, wouldtypically promote a company that manufactures, sells or is otherwiseinvolved with the manufacture, marketing, and/or installation of themembrane(s) with which the membrane temperature indicator is associated.Where the membrane temperature indicator of the subject invention isintended to function only as a membrane temperature indicator, themembrane temperature indicator can simply be in the form of a dot,circle, square, rectangle, triangle, other geometric configuration, orother indicia of a sufficient size and in a location that enables themembrane temperature indicator to be easily seen by the installers.

The membrane temperature indicator of the subject invention can be usedwith standard or self-adhering asphaltic roofing membranes that havesmooth or granular top surfaces, with other standard or self-adheringroofing membranes (such as but not limited single ply PVC, TPO, and EPDMmembranes sold by Johns Manville International, Inc.), and with standardor self-adhering asphaltic, single ply, or other roofing membranes thathave smooth or granular thermochromic top or exposed surfaces thatundergo a visible color change at a temperature of about 70° F.±5° F. topromote energy conservation within a building.

The designated temperature at which the membrane temperature indicatorof the subject invention visibly changes color is selected to be at orabove a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofingmembrane and/or at or above a minimum recommended installationtemperature for the roofing membrane for a particular roofing membraneinstallation procedure. The minimum recommended roofing membraneinstallation temperature for the standard roofing membranes with whichthe membrane temperature indicator of the subject invention has beenutilized is 40° F. (4° C.) and the minimum recommended roofing membraneinstallation temperature for the self-adhering roofing membranes withwhich the membrane temperature indicator of the subject invention hasbeen utilized is 50° F. (10° C.). Thus, the selected designatedtemperature at which the color of the membrane temperature indicator ofthe subject invention changes for these roofing membranes is at least40° F. (4° C.) for the standard membranes and at least 50° F. (10° C.)for the self-adhering membranes. Thus, by using the roofing membranetemperature indicator of the subject invention, a roofing contractor canreadily determine whether the temperature of a roofing membrane issuitable for the installation of the roofing membrane and therebyprevent an inadvertent installation of the roofing membrane at atemperature below a minimum recommended installation temperature for theroofing membrane and/or a minimum recommended installation temperaturefor the roofing membrane for a particular roofing membrane installationprocedure.

The membrane temperature indicator of the subject invention can beselectively made to visibly change color at a designated temperature: toindicate whether a roofing membrane is either below or at or above aminimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane;to indicate that whether a roofing membrane is either below or at orabove a minimum recommended installation temperature for a particularroofing membrane installation procedure; or to indicate whether aroofing membrane is either below or at or above a minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for a roofing membrane and a minimumrecommended installation temperature for a particular roofing membraneinstallation procedure.

With a package of roofing membranes, the package may include one or moremembrane temperature indicators that overlie the roofing membranes andare visible from outside the package or one or more of the roofingmembranes within the package may include membrane temperatureindicator(s) that are integral with or secured to the roofingmembrane(s) and visible from outside the package. As shown in FIGS. 1and 2, a package 20 containing a plurality of roofing membrane rolls 22also contains one or more membrane temperature indicators 24 of thesubject invention that are integral with splicing membrane(s) 26, suchas but not limited to end lap cap sheet splicing membranes of the typeshown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The package 20 includes a pallet 28 and atransparent or translucent stretch wrap or shrink wrap film 30 thatoverlies and secures the roofing membrane rolls 22 to the pallet 28 andsecures the one or more splicing membrane(s) 26 over the roofingmembrane rolls 22 during the storage, shipment and handling of the rollsprior to installation so that at least one membrane temperatureindicator 24 within the package 20 is clearly visible from outside thepackage.

In FIG. 1, the roofing membranes 32 of the roofing membrane rolls 22 andthe membrane temperature indicator 24 are below the designatedtemperature of the membrane temperature indicator 24 and the membranetemperature indicator 24 visibly indicates that the membrane temperatureindicator 24 and the roofing membranes 32 are at a temperature below aminimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membranes32 and/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofingmembranes 32 for a particular roofing membrane installation procedure.In FIG. 2, the roofing membranes 32 of the roofing membrane rolls 22 andthe membrane temperature indicator 24 are at or above the designatedtemperature of the membrane temperature indicator 24 and thermochromicportions 34 of the membrane temperature indicator 24 have lightened tovisibly indicate that the membrane temperature indicator 24 and theroofing membranes 32 of the roofing membrane rolls 22 are at atemperature at or above a minimum recommended installation temperaturefor the roofing membranes 32 and/or a minimum recommended installationtemperature for the roofing membranes 32 for a particular roofingmembrane installation procedure. FIG. 3 shows at least some of theroofing membranes 32 from the package 20 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and twosplicing membranes 26 with membrane temperature indicators 24 from thepackage 20 of FIGS. 1 and 2 installed on a roof with the temperature ofthe roofing membranes 32 and membrane temperature indicators 24 at orabove the designated temperature of the membrane temperature indicator.

With an individual roofing membrane 32 the membrane temperatureindicator 24 of the subject invention can be integral with, overlie, orbe secured to the individual roofing membrane. While there are manydifferent ways the membrane temperature indicator 24 can overlie or besecured to an individual roofing membrane 32, FIGS. 4 and 5 show aroofing membrane roll 22 wherein the membrane temperature indicator 24is located on a packaging sleeve 36 that encircles the roofing membraneroll. In FIG. 4, the roofing membrane 32 of the roofing membrane roll 22and the membrane temperature indicator 24 are below the designatedtemperature of the membrane temperature indicator 24 and the membranetemperature indicator 24 visibly indicates that the membrane temperatureindicator 24 and the roofing membrane 32 are at a temperature below aminimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane 32and/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofingmembranes 32 for a particular roofing membrane installation procedure.In FIG. 5, the roofing membrane 32 of the roofing membrane roll 22 andthe membrane temperature indicator 24 are at or above the designatedtemperature of the membrane temperature indicator 24 and thermochromicportions 34 of the membrane temperature indicator 24 have lightened tovisibly indicate that the membrane temperature indicator 24 and theroofing membrane 32 of the roofing membrane roll 22 are at a temperatureat or above a minimum recommended installation temperature for theroofing membrane 32 and/or a minimum recommended installationtemperature for the roofing membrane for a particular roofing membraneinstallation procedure.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a roofing membrane roll 22 held in roll form by apackaging sleeve 36 wherein the membrane temperature indicator 24 is anintegral part of the roofing membrane 32 and located at or adjacent oneend of the roofing membrane 32 so that the membrane temperatureindicator 24 is visible when the membrane is wound into the roll 22. InFIG. 6, the roofing membrane 32 of the roofing membrane roll 22 and themembrane temperature indicator 24 are below the designated temperatureof the membrane temperature indicator 24 and the membrane temperatureindicator 24 visibly indicates that the membrane temperature indicator24 and the roofing membrane 32 are at a temperature below a minimumrecommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane 32 and/ora minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane32 for a particular roofing membrane installation procedure. In FIG. 7,the roofing membrane 32 of the roofing membrane roll 22 and the membranetemperature indicator 24 are at or above the designated temperature ofthe membrane temperature indicator 24 and thermochromic portions 34 ofthe membrane temperature indicator 24 have lightened to visibly indicatethat the membrane temperature indicator 24 and the roofing membrane 32of the roofing membrane roll 22 are at a temperature at or above aminimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane 32and/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofingmembrane 32 for a particular roofing membrane installation procedure.

FIGS. 8 to 13 show examples of roofing membrane assemblies that haveroofing membranes incorporating the membrane temperature indicator 24 ofthe subject invention. While the roofing membrane assemblies of FIGS. 8to 13 include self-adhering roofing membranes, the membrane temperatureindicator 24 can also be used with standard roofing membranes that arenot self-adhering roofing membranes. The self-adhering roofing membranesof FIGS. 8 to 13 form watertight bonds with other roof componentsprimarily with the application of pressure and without the need to useheat, flame, an additional adhesive material, or hot asphalt material.The thicknesses of the components of these roofing membrane assembliesare exaggerated to better show detail of the assemblies.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show an end portion of a base sheet assembly 40 whereinthe membrane temperature indicator 24 is an integral part of the basesheet membrane 42 of the assembly and located at or adjacent one end ofthe base sheet membrane so that the membrane temperature indicator 24 isvisible when the base sheet membrane, as part of the base sheet assembly40, is wound in a roll for storage, shipping, and handling. In FIG. 8,the base sheet membrane 42 and the membrane temperature indicator 24 arebelow the designated temperature of the membrane temperature indicator24 and the membrane temperature indicator 24 visibly indicates that themembrane temperature indicator 24 and the base sheet membrane 42 are ata temperature below a minimum recommended installation temperature forthe base sheet membrane 42 and/or a minimum recommended installationtemperature for the base sheet membrane 42 for a particular roofingmembrane installation procedure. In FIG. 9, the base sheet membrane 42and the membrane temperature indicator 24 are at or above the designatedtemperature of the membrane temperature indicator 24 and thermochromicportions 34 of the membrane temperature indicator 24 have lightened tovisibly indicate that the membrane temperature indicator 24 and the basesheet membrane 42 are at a temperature at or above a minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for the base sheet membrane 42 and/or a minimumrecommended installation temperature for the base sheet membrane 42 fora particular roofing membrane installation procedure.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the base sheet assembly 40 of the subjectinvention has: a waterproof self-adhering base sheet 42, a bottomsurface release sheet 44 that forms a bottom surface of the base sheetassembly, and a transparent or translucent top surface release sheet 46that forms a top surface of the base sheet assembly and enables themembrane temperature indicator 24 to be easily viewed through therelease sheet. With the release sheets 44 and 46 of the base sheetassembly removed, the waterproof base sheet 42 can be self-adhered toother waterproof self-adhering base sheets 42 to form a watertightroofing system layer and to an overlying roofing system layer and anunderlying roofing system layer.

The waterproof self-adhering base sheet 42 of the base sheet assembly 40may be of various lengths, widths, and thicknesses, but preferably isabout 30 to about 60 feet long, about 39 inches wide (typically 39%inches wide), and between about 0.04 and about 0.16 inches thick (about10 to about 20 meters long, 880 to 1020 millimeters wide, and betweenabout 1 and about 4 millimeters thick). The waterproof self-adheringbase sheet 42 typically has a reinforcing layer, such as a non-wovenpolyester, fiberglass, or polyester/fiberglass reinforcement mat,encapsulated within a self-adhering bitumen material. This self-adheringbitumen material forms a bottom layer and a bottom major surface of thewaterproof self-adhering base sheet 42 and a top layer and a top majorsurface of the waterproof self-adhering base sheet.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an end portion of a cap sheet assembly 60 whereinthe membrane temperature indicator 24 is an integral part of the capsheet membrane 62 of the assembly and located at or adjacent one end ofthe cap sheet membrane so that the membrane temperature indicator 24 isvisible when the cap sheet membrane, as part of the cap sheet assembly60, is wound in a roll for storage, shipping and handling. In FIG. 10,the cap sheet membrane 62 and the membrane temperature indicator 24 arebelow the designated temperature of the membrane temperature indicator24 and the membrane temperature indicator 24 visibly indicates that themembrane temperature indicator 24 and the cap sheet membrane 62 are at atemperature below a minimum recommended installation temperature for thecap sheet membrane 62 and/or a minimum recommended installationtemperature for the cap sheet membrane 62 for a particular roofingmembrane installation procedure. In FIG. 11, the cap sheet membrane 42and the membrane temperature indicator 24 are at or above the designatedtemperature of the membrane temperature indicator 24 and thermochromicportions 34 of the membrane temperature indicator 24 have lightened tovisibly indicate that the membrane temperature indicator 24 and the capsheet membrane 62 are at a temperature at or above a minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for the cap sheet membrane 62 and/or a minimumrecommended installation temperature for the cap sheet membrane 62 for aparticular roofing membrane installation procedure.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the cap sheet assembly 60 of the subjectinvention has: a waterproof cap sheet membrane 62, a bottom surfacerelease sheet 64 that forms a bottom surface of the cap sheet assembly,and a top surface selvage edge portion release sheet 66 that forms onelateral edge portion of a top surface of the cap sheet assembly. Withthe bottom release sheet 64 of the cap sheet assembly removed, thewaterproof cap sheet membrane 62 can be adhered to an underlying roofingsystem layer formed by a plurality of the waterproof base sheets, suchas but not limited to the self-adhering base sheets 42, by pressing thecap sheet membrane 62 against the top surface of the underlying roofsystem layer. With the top surface selvage edge portion release sheet 66removed, the selvage edge portion of the cap sheet membrane 62 may bebonded, primarily by the application of pressure to an overlappinglateral edge portion of another cap sheet to form a watertight topmostlayer of a roof system.

The waterproof cap sheet membrane 62 of the cap sheet assembly 60 may beof various lengths, widths, and thicknesses, but preferably, is about 30to about 45 feet long, about 39 inches wide (typically 39⅜ inches wide),and between about 0.08 and about 0.20 inches thick (about 10 to about 15meters long, 880 to 1020 millimeters wide, and between about 2 and about5 millimeters thick). The waterproof cap sheet membrane 62 includes areinforcing layer, such as a non-woven polyester, fiberglass, orpolyester/fiberglass reinforcement mat, encapsulated within modifiedself-adhering bitumen. The modified bitumen forms a bottom layer and abottom major surface of the waterproof cap sheet membrane 62. Themodified bitumen also forms a top layer and a selvage edge portionsurface of the top major surface of the waterproof cap sheet membrane.The selvage edge portion surface of the top major surface of thewaterproof cap sheet 62 is between about 3 inches and about 13 incheswide and preferably about 8 inches wide (between about 75 and about 320millimeters wide and preferably about 200 millimeters wide) and extendsalong one lateral edge of the cap sheet membrane for the entire lengthof the cap sheet membrane. The remainder of the top major surface of thewaterproof cap sheet membrane 62 is surfaced with a conventionalsurfacing material such as but not limited to roofing granules 68, sand,or other coating materials.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show an end lap cap sheet splicing assembly 80 whereinthe membrane temperature indicator 24 is an integral part of the end lapcap sheet splicing membrane 82 of the assembly. In FIG. 12, the end lapcap sheet splicing membrane 82 and the membrane temperature indicator 24are below the designated temperature of the membrane temperatureindicator 24 and the membrane temperature indicator 24 visibly indicatesthat the membrane temperature indicator 24 and the end lap cap sheetsplicing membrane 82 are at a temperature below a minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for the end lap cap sheet-splicing membrane 82and/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the end lapcap sheet splicing membrane 82 for a particular roofing membraneinstallation procedure. In FIG. 13, the end lap cap sheet splicingmembrane 82 and the membrane temperature indicator 24 are at or abovethe designated temperature of the membrane temperature indicator 24 andthermochromic portions 34 of the membrane temperature indicator 24 havelightened to visibly indicate that the membrane temperature indicator 24and the end lap cap sheet splicing membrane 82 are at a temperature ator above a minimum recommended installation temperature for the end lapcap sheet splicing membrane 82 and/or a minimum recommended installationtemperature for the end lap cap sheet splicing membrane 82 for aparticular roofing membrane installation procedure.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the end lap cap sheet splicing assembly 80includes: a waterproof self-adhering end lap cap sheet splicing membrane82, a bottom surface release sheet 84 that forms a bottom surface of theend lap cap sheet splicing assembly, and three top surface edge portionrelease sheets 86 that form three of the edge portions of a top surfaceof the end lap cap sheet splicing assembly. With the bottom releasesheet 84 of the end lap cap sheet splicing assembly removed, theself-adhering bottom major surface of the waterproof self-adhering endlap cap sheet splicing membrane 82 can be adhered to an underlyingroofing system layer by pressing the waterproof self-adhering end lapcap sheet splicing membrane 82 against the top surface of the underlyingroofing system layer. With the opposing top surface lateral edge portionrelease sheets 86 removed, the opposing top self-adhering surfaces ofthe lateral edge portions of the waterproof self-adhering end lap capsheet splicing membrane 82 may be bonded by the application of pressureto overlapping end lap edge portions of successive lengths of cap sheet,such as but not limited to cap sheet 60, to form a continuous length ofcap sheet from two separate lengths of cap sheet at the job site. Whenthe self-adhering end lap cap sheet splicing membrane 82 is installed,the top self-adhering surface of third self-adhering edge portion of thewaterproof self-adhering end lap cap sheet splicing membrane 82 forms,along with the top surfaces of selvage edge portions of the cap sheetsspliced together by the splicing membrane 82, a continuous self-adheringselvage edge portion surface for the joined cap sheets.

The waterproof self-adhering end lap cap sheet splicing membrane 82 maybe of various lengths, widths, and thicknesses, but preferably, theself-adhering end lap cap sheet splicing membrane 82 is a square inshape with each side of the square having the same dimension as thewidth of the cap sheets being joined by the splicing membrane. Thewaterproof self-adhering end lap cap sheet splicing membrane 82 has areinforcing layer, such as a non-woven polyester, fiberglass, orpolyester/fiberglass reinforcement mat, encapsulated within modifiedbitumen. The modified bitumen forms a bottom layer and the self-adheringbottom major surface of the waterproof self-adhering end lap cap sheetsplicing membrane 82. The modified bitumen also forms an upper layer andthe self-adhering top surfaces of the three self-adhering edge portionsof the top major surface of the waterproof self-adhering end lap capsheet splicing membrane 82. The remainder of the top major surface ofthe waterproof end lap cap sheet splicing membrane 82 is surfaced with aconventional surfacing material such as but not limited to roofinggranules 88, sand, or other coating materials.

In describing the invention, certain embodiments have been used toillustrate the invention and the practices thereof. However, theinvention is not limited to these specific embodiments as otherembodiments and modifications within the spirit of the invention willreadily occur to those skilled in the art on reading this specification.Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed, but is to be limited only by the claims appendedhereto.

1. A roofing membrane temperature indicator for preventing theinstallation of a roofing membrane at a temperature below a minimumrecommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane and/or aminimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membranefor a particular installation procedure, comprising: a membranetemperature indicator for being visibly associated with a roofingmembrane; the membrane temperature indicator comprising a thermochromicindicator having a first color below a designated temperature and asecond color visibly different from the first color at and above thedesignated temperature; and the designated temperature being at or abovea minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membraneand/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofingmembrane for a particular installation procedure.
 2. A roofing membranehaving a membrane temperature indicator for preventing the installationof the roofing membrane at a temperature below a minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for the roofing membrane and/or a minimumrecommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane for aparticular installation procedure, comprising: a roofing membrane; and amembrane temperature indicator visibly associated with a roofingmembrane; the membrane temperature indicator comprising a thermochromicindicator having a first color at temperatures below a designatedtemperature and a second color visibly different from the first color atand above the designated temperature; and the designated temperaturebeing at or above a minimum recommended installation temperature for theroofing membrane and/or a minimum recommended installation temperaturefor the roofing membrane for a particular installation procedure.
 3. Theroofing membrane according to claim 2, wherein: the roofing membrane isan asphalt-based roofing membrane.
 4. The roofing membrane according toclaim 2, wherein: the roofing membrane is a single-ply roofing membrane.5. The roofing membrane according to claim 2, wherein: the roofingmembrane is a thermochromic roofing membrane that has a top surface thatundergoes a visible color change at a temperature of about 70° F.±5° F.6. The roofing membrane according to claim 7, wherein: the roofingmembrane is a self-adhering roofing membrane.
 7. The roofing membraneaccording to claim 2, wherein: the membrane temperature indicator is anintegral part of the roofing membrane.
 8. The roofing membrane accordingto claim 2, wherein: the membrane temperature indicator is attached tothe roofing membrane.
 9. The roofing membrane according to claim 2,wherein: the roofing membrane is a base sheet membrane.
 10. The roofingmembrane according to claim 2, wherein: the roofing membrane is a capsheet membrane.
 11. The roofing membrane according to claim 2, wherein:the roofing membrane is an end lap cap sheet splicing membrane.
 12. Apackage of roofing membrane rolls, comprising: a plurality of roofingmembrane rolls; means holding the plurality of roofing membrane rollstogether for storage, shipping, and handling prior to installation ofroofing membranes forming the roofing insulation rolls; and a membranetemperature indicator for preventing the installation of the roofingmembranes at a temperature below a minimum recommended installationtemperature for the roofing membranes and/or a minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for the roofing membranes for a particularinstallation procedure; the membrane temperature indicator being visibleand comprising a thermochromic indicator having a first color attemperatures below a designated temperature and a second color visiblydifferent from the first color at and above the designated temperature;and the designated temperature being at or above the minimum recommendedinstallation temperature for the roofing membranes and/or the minimumrecommended installation temperature for the particular installationprocedure.
 13. The package of roofing membranes according to claim 12,wherein: the roofing membranes are asphalt-based roofing membranes. 14.The package of roofing membranes according to claim 12, wherein: theroofing membranes are single-ply roofing membranes.
 15. The package ofroofing membranes according to claim 12, wherein: the roofing membranesare thermochromic roofing membranes that have top surfaces that undergoa visible color change at a temperature of about 70° F.±5° F.
 16. Thepackage of roofing membranes according to claim 12, wherein: themembrane temperature indicator is an integral part of at least one ofthe roofing membranes.
 17. The package of roofing membranes according toclaim 12, wherein: at least some of the roofing membranes are base sheetmembranes.
 18. The package of roofing membranes according to claim 12,wherein: at least some of the roofing membranes are cap sheet membranes.19. The package of roofing membranes according to claim 12, wherein: atleast some of the roofing membranes are end lap cap sheet splicingmembranes.